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Summary

Description

Possibly 17th or early 18th century. Detached 3-stage, stone, multiple sundial set within square of decorative ceramic tiles dated '18' '65' and located at centre of sunken terrace in direct line between access steps from house to pleasure grounds (see Notes). Low plinth supports Doric column with shield (blank) at N face, S, E and W faces bear direct-facing dials with various sized gnomons and incised markings. 2nd stage comprises stone cube with concave hemispherical dials and gnomon to each face. Crowning 3rd stage has carved thistle finial. Decorative tiles also include variety of initials and patterns.

Statement of Special Interest

A-Group with Hallyburton House; Baldinny Farmhouse; Garage and Game Larders; Ha-Ha to NW and SE of House and Main Driveway; Stables and Ancillary; Walled Garden, Shed and Cottage; West Lodge and Gate.

The interesting early sundial at Hallyburton is a key element of the formal gardens and estate landscape, outstanding for its type and date. It makes a significant contribution to the surviving group of estate buildings. This multiple dial, which closely resembles the style of dial listed by Macgibbon and Ross as 'Dials on Market and Other Crosses', is almost certainly earlier than the date recorded in the ceramic tiles at its base and may be contemporary with the original house of 1680. A sundial appears on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map at the NW end of a walled garden, and may indicate the original location of this dial.

Andrew Summerville concluded that 'Scotland today has a greater recorded number of complex 17th- and 18th-century sundials than other countries. Although many have undoubtedly been lost'. The increasing scarcity of survivors, and the wide variety of types, adds to the interest of the remaining examples. The Hallyburton sundial is very similar/almost identical to a category A listed 17th century sundial in the Formal Garden of the Dowery House at Stobhall, a few miles to the west of Hallyburton.

Macgibbon and Ross describe detached dials as 'among the most important monumental objects bequeathed to the country by the seventeenth century' (page 406). They also discuss the intense scientific interest which led to early publications on the construction of sundials 'in which definite rules are laid down for the guidance of the dial-maker, so as to ensure his producing a work which will accurately note the passing hours' (page 357).

Hallyburton's original 1680 house was built for the Hallyburton's of nearby Pitcur. The large estate was purchased by Graham Menzies from the Marquis of Huntly in 1879 for the sum of £235,000. Graham Menzies, founder of the Distillers Company, passed the estate to his son W G Graham Menzies in 1890. Gordon W Menzies commissioned the 1903 Lorimer work, and Hallyburton remains in the same family today.

References

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